Illuminator.



VAN RNSSELAER LANSINGH.

ILLUMINATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00120, 190s.

Batented Mar. 9, 1909.

@9R11 @new nnrrnn s'rnrss Ferarri ersten VAN RENSSELAER LANSINGH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HOLOPHANE GLASS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION.

ILL'UIVIINATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 9, 1909.

To all 'whom it may concer/t:

Be it known that l, YAN KnNssicLAan LANSINGH, a citizen of theli nited States, and resident of New York, in the county of Kings and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Illuminator, and. l do hereby declare the following is a full and clear description thereof. A

My invention relates to an illuminating device, more particularly described a reflector group, used generally in conncction with incandescent electric lamps, although other suitable lighting devices may be employed.

lt has been customary heretofore to place incandescent lamps in translucent shades, and also in prismatic glass reflectors, the latter usuallyhaving smooth inner surfaces, and having the prisms disposed in any of many different fashions on the outer surfaces. These reflectors serve to reflect the light -of the lamp outwardly in the direction in which the open mouth of thereflector is pointed. There is, however, especially when the reflectors are of clear `glass, an appreciable amount of light which. passes through the reliector and under ordinary conditions simply radiates in a general direction oppo-- site to that in which the reflector is designed to project the light of the lamp.

- ln my invention l arrange a number of lamps, cach provided with a reflector of the general characteristics specified, in a group or cluster, and place near the group, in Ythe general direction of the rays of light which pass through the reflectors', a larger reflector which covers the whole group of small ones and reflects in the general direction of illumination of the small reflectors the light which passes. through them. This large reflector may vary considerably in nature, but a preferred construction is of glass, the inner surface smooth and the outer surface provided with prisms disposed in any of many suitable arrangements.

The results of psing one or more lamps each provided, with a prisnm tic reflector which transmits some light rays, combined withY a large reflector fo r the whole group are obviously superior to those obtained by the use'iol the independent lamps and reflectors, since in the former caso a measurable portion of light, which is pra ctically lost in using the independent reflectors, is conserved and projected in the proper direction of illumination.

The light rays which pass through the prismatic glass reflectors which surround the lamps, are generally somewhat diffused by pa; ing through the glass. The same is true if reflectors of aJn opalescent character are used, or if translucent shades be applied to the lamps. These rays, having passed through the small primary shades or reflectors, reach the large or common reflector from different directions, and in a different condition as to brilliancy from the direct rays from the lamp. The common reflector blends these rays, and projects them in the desired direction, causing. them to 4intermingle with the rays projected by the primary reflectors, and modifying the character, as well as increasing the quantity of the mass of light projected. The secondary-or large reflector is so formed as to` receive and concentrate tlze light rays which pass through, or pass by the primary shades or reflectors, and, to project and direct the rays so receivccd, generally in the direction of the rays .from the primary reflectors, but sometimes the secondary reflector may direct its rays from the primary shades or reflectors, this being due to the relative position ol.' thc rcflectors.

The characteristics and advantages of my invention are hereinafter more fully pointed out in connection with a detailed description of the accompanying drawing 'which illustrates one embodiment of my invention.

The drawing is a perspective view of an illuminating cluster.

Reference immoral l designates one or any convenient plurality of lights, in this instance incandescent electric lamps; 2, prismatic reflectors, one for each lamp; in a preferred embodiment these reflectors are of clear glass, the inner surface being smooth and the outer surface provided with prisms disposed in any suitable manner-as shown in the drawing the prisms are radial, but any other approved arrangement of prisms may be substituted, and the reflectors may be of' other material, such as opalescent glass or any suitable translucent substance. rfhe reflectors as shown in the drawing are arranged so as to gh` e a quite wide distribution of light but the relative positions of the reflectors 2 may of course be varied so as to prfiect the light in any suitable way; 3 is a large reflector placed above the individual reflectors f2 in such a manner as to intercept all or most of the light rays in the same general direction of illumination as l master reflector coiiinienlto and inclosing all the Whole group, or, if desi; d, in another the lights and adapted to reflect theV com direction. This large reflector may be of i bined light in a downward direction.

widely Varying material and form; in a pre- 2. in illuminatoi' comprising a group of l'eired construction it is of clear glass with a i smooth inner surface and prisms arranged on the exterior surface in any suitable manner; l

l each light and a master reliector common to or, it may be of opalescent glass, translucent l i l and inclosing all the lights and adapted to material other than glass, etc. t rect-ion.

The group of lain s and reflectors is to bc 3. An. illuminatingl device comprising a supported by any suitable lixture, so that the i group of lamps and reflectors may be put iii glass rellector lor each light and a prisinatic position as a unit. The construction olsuch i glass master reflector common `to and inaiixtui'e may obviously be widely varied and l closing all the lights and-adapted to reilect an suitable form may be employed. the combined light in a downward direction.

lt is to be understood that I do not limitln testimony whereof l have allixed my m selll to details but contemplate any change signature in the presence of two witnesses. w iicli .may be inadc within the spirit of my Y. 1L LNSINGIL invention.

I claim:

1. An illuminator comprising a group of lights, a reflector inclosing each light and a ll'itncsses:

' ll. F. Howie,

A. J. MARSHALL lights, an independent prisinatic reiector for reflect the combined light in a downward digroup of lights, an independent prismatic 

